Chrysanthemum plant named Pink Arola

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Pink Arola particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 6.5 cm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot mum, and spreading branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dentrenthema morifolium, Ramat., previously Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., and referred to by the cultivar name Pink Arola.

Pink Arola, identified as 79L19J04, is a product of a mutation induction program which had the objective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars that would expand the color range of an existing seedling while retaining all other original traits.

Pink Arola was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg on Mar. 25, 1983 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1400 rads. The irradiated parent cultivar was an unnamed seedling, identified as 79L19004.

The female parent of 79L19004 was the cultivar Tempo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,505. The male parent was identified as 7811008 and was an unnamed seedling.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Pink Arola was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June of 1983 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by technicians working under formulations established and supervised by Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Pink Arola are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Pink Arola has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Pink Arola which, in combination, distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. Red-purple ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum up to 6.5 cm. at maturity.

5. Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

6. Medium plant height, requiring 10 to 14 long days prior to pinch, followed by 0 to 4 long days prior to short days, and one application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP after the beginning of short days to attain a flowered height of 25 to 35 cm. in 6" pots.

7. Spreading branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and leaf characteristics of Pink Arola, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Pink Arola grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Pink Arola.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and under sides of the leaves of Pink Arola at three stages of development (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Pink Arola is Excel, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,495. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certain characteristics of Pink Arola to the same characteristics of Excel. Similar traits are capitulum form and type, diameter across face of capitulum and branching pattern. Pink Arola differs from Excel in ray floret color, photoperiodic flowering response to short days, and plant height.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on plant material grown in Salinas, Calif. on Dec. 17, 1985.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dentrenthema morifolium, Ramat., cv Pink Arola.

Commercial.--Spray decorative pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--Up to 6.5 cm. at maturity.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Red-purple.

Color (upper surface).--71B.

Color (under surface).--78C.

Shape.--Oblong.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--2A.

Color (immature).--1B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; very few, scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 25 to 35 cm. as a flowering pot plant given 10 to 14 long days before pinch and 0 to 4 long days before start of short days, with one application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--137A.

Color (under surface).--137B.

Shape.--Moderately lobed and slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARISON OF PINK AROLA AND EXCEL                                             ______________________________________                                                  RAY       CAPITULUM                                                            FLORET    FORM AND      BRANCHING                                     CULTIVAR COLOR     TYPE          PATTERN                                       ______________________________________                                         PINK     RED       FLAT          SPREADING                                     AROLA    PURPLE    DECORATIVE                                                  EXCEL    LAVEN-    FLAT          SPREADING                                              DER       DECORATIVE                                                  ______________________________________                                                  DIAMETER                                                                       ACROSS FACE            FLOWERING                                               OF           PLANT     RESPONSE                                       CULTIVAR CAPITULUM    HEIGHT    PERIOD                                         ______________________________________                                         PINK     Up to 6.5 cm.                                                                               MEDIUM    NINE WEEKS                                     AROLA                                                                          EXCEL    55 to 70 mm. TALL      EIGHT WEEKS                                    ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                            PINCHED, SPRAY POT MUMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                             

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Pink Arola, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 6.5 cm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot mum, and spreading branching pattern. 